Railway signal-torpedo



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8. 19-15.

F. DUTCHER. RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 8. 1915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- IlNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK DUTCI-IER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed October 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-- way Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes and it pertains to a torpedo having a case that is rolled up from a sheet of paper or suitable fibrous material.

The object of my invention is to make a torpedo by rolling a plastic explosive tablet within a sheet of paper then pressing the extending ends of the rolled sheet together and pressing the intermediate portion to the shape of the plastic, and to fold inwardly the flattened ends of the rolled sheet to hold a strap carrying member.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention. Fi 2 is an inverted perspective view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the formed case strap and holding member in separated relation. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the method of rolling the tablet. explosive in the sheet. Fig. 7 shows the rolled sheet pressed to the shape of the tablet and its ends pressed together, with that portion of the ends extended downwardly that are to be folded inwardly.

In making this torpedo a suitably shaped tablet plastic explosive 1 is provided and also a rectangular sheet of paper 2. The tablet 1 is placed on the paper, as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 6, and the tablet rolled therein into tubular form as shown at 3. The ends 4 of this tube are then pressed down together, as shown in Fig. 7 and are cemented closely together in that position. The pressing down of the ends 4 shapes the central portion of the tube to the shape of the plastic tablet and provides the projecting flat cemented ends 4. The sheet 2 being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916. Serial N 0. 54,878.

through which the rail-engaging strap 8 is passed, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The plate 6 with its strap is placed against the bottom of the torpedo and the ends 4 are doubled therearound as shown clearly at 9 Figs. 2 and 3, and these folded ends are cemented to to the plate 6. Preferably the plate 6 is of cardboard or fibrous material, though it may be of metal when it is desired to use a spring rail-engaging clip (not shown) the form and operation of which is well known and understood by those skilled in this art.

The bottom of the torpedo is preferably sanded as clearly shown in Fig. 2 to prevent it slipping on the railroad rail.

A torpedo of the construction here shown is simple to produce and is quickly made and when completed is of an eflicient character.

It will be noted that when the ends 4 are doubled under, it makes a stop or break to prevent the travel of' moisture or water through the ends of the flattened tubular portion as well as providing means for holding the rail-engaging strap to the body of the case or torpedo.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved torpedo comprising a tubular explosive containing case having projecting flattened ends, a strap holding plate at the bottom of the case, the flattened ends of the case turned around the ends of the plate and cemented thereto for holding it in position.

2. An improved railway signal torpedo comprising a plastic explosive tablet rolled in a sheet of fibrous material with extended tubular flattened ends, a strap holding plate at the bottom of the case, the flattened ends of the case turned around the ends of the plate and cemented thereto for holding it in position.

3. An improved railway torpedo comprising a plastic explosive tablet rolled in a sheet Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK DUTGHER.

Witnesses:

R. W. JUNKER, A. MACDONALD.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

